In Citrix environment there’s an alternative connection method for signotec signature pads. The “Virtual Channel” Technology allows you to use the signature pad without a COM-Port-Mapping. This procedure does not need a serial device, it supports HID-USB and WinUSB pads as well.
This technology speeds up the connection a lot, so that the response time lowers noticeable. Especially the signature process on the Alpha Pad accelerates.
The Virtual Channel driver is set up on the ICA Client. After configuration of the driver, the pads communicate via the virtual channel, which was set up. As soon as the CITRIX sessions starts, the virtual channel initializes. Every data between the pad and the software will be compressed, send via the virtual channel, getting decompressed and will be processed. This technology lowers network traffic and reduces latency by a multiple.